Do You Approve of Khan and Mandira's Marriage - Essay Example

Do You Approve of Khan and Mandira's Marriage?Yes, I do approve of Khan and Mandira’s marriage. But before I expound my answer, let me state why the question was significant not only in the film My Name is Khan but also in the bigger society in general. The question was about the marriage of Rizwan Khan and Mandira who has gone awry because of Khan’s religion which is Mohammedanism. Rizwan Khan’s religion was not an issue before until the September 11 terrorist attack that Mandira’s and his son begun experiencing discrimination because of their ethnic background.

The drama culminated when Mandira’s son Sam was beaten by a gang due to his last name Khan that caused his death. The conflict between Khan and Mandira’s marriage begun with the death of Mandira’s son Sam. Mandira was so disheartened by the death of her son Sam to the point that she blamed her husband Rizwan for having his last name “Khan” which triggered the bullying and beating that caused her son’s death. This was highlighted in the film (youtube a) where Mandira was hysterical in the scene blaming Rizwan’s religion as the cause of Sam’s death, that he had not been a Muslim, her son would have not been beaten and still alive.

There are two issues in the marriage why it was questioned whether it should be approved or not. First is the difference of religion between the two (Khan is a Muslim and Mandira is not) and second, Khan is diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome, a type of autism that makes him socially awkward and lacking in non verbal communication skill that makes his eligibility for marriage questionable. I approved the marriage because considering it otherwise meant subscribing to the stereotype against the Muslims that caused divisiveness in our society.

Disapproving the marriage would mean alienating Islam, the faith of Rizwan Khan and that would fuel hatred between Muslims and non-Muslims. It would also tantamount to dismissing Islam as incompatible with other religion when we are striving religious tolerance to achieve harmony in our society. Also, the basis of marriage should be mutual love which Mandira and Khan (particularly Khan) was obviously shown to be in love in the film (Youtube a). They were happy until society’s intolerance towards the Muslim begun after the 911 attack that typecasted all Muslims to be terrorist.

By approving the marriage, we are also sending the message that people can love and coexist even if they have different religions.The other consideration why the marriage is questioned is due to Khan’s Asperger Syndrome that made his capacity to start a family questionable. Again, questioning this would mean discriminating against those who has the syndrome. People with Asperger Syndrome are not to be discriminated because they are just different people who have a unique mental state. Shunning them out of marriage is treating them as subhuman who are not capable of love and responsibility.

Approving their marriage would mean acceptance of who they are and giving them the chance to live a normal life which the movie has shown they could when they are given a chance. Their struggle was best exemplified in the scene where Khan was selling a beauty product that led to him meeting Mandira of which they eventually married (youtube b).Works CitedYoutube a. My name is Khan online stream free movie part 1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kgu8cuwc_48Youtube b. My Name is Khan's Best moments.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZdSGX6z0EU